Friday 03/12/04 Lambchop @ The Philharmonic, Liverpool

Nashville alt.country combo, Lambchop embark on a short UK tour with an exclusive gig at the Philharmonic Hall. The group, provide the soundtrack to ‘Sunrise’, an old silent film made in 1927. The screenplay was directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau and is described as "This story of a man and his wife is of nowhere and everywhere, you might hear it anywhere and at any time." Basically it’s a love story with a few comic touches thrown in. The film itself is watchable and is considered to be a Hollywood masterpiece. 

Led by Kurt Wagner, the eight-piece enter the stage and sit down with their backs to the audience. One heckler shouts ignorant bastards, which raises a few laughs. Fortunately, the group take it in their stride. The material is mainly drawn from their previous album ‘Aw C’Mon/No, You C’Mon’, along with some unreleased material. Occasionally the music distracts from what’s on the screen but more often than not compliments the film. Themes are reprised to provide familiarity. Scenes featuring the piano in particular, seem to work best. As a whole, the group manage to pull it off nicely.

Overall if you’re not a fan of Lambchop, then you will at least come out enjoying the film if not vice versa. Ideally though, you’ll walk out enjoying the whole experience like I did.